Device for preventing habitual breathing through the mouth



March 29, 1955 CETTEL ETAL 2,705,006

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING HABITUAL BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH Filed Dec. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lou/s L. Carrel Mar/e Pauline Girard 11v VEN TORS March 29, 1955 CETTEL ET AL 2,705,006

. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING HABITUAL BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH Filed Dec. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Louis L. Cartel Marie Paul/he Gfi'ard INVENTORS Mm BY ym 3M3:

United States Patent 'Oflice 2,705,006 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 DEVICE FOR PREVENTING HABITUAL BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH Louis L. Cettel and Marie Pauline Girard, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,098

3 Claims. (Cl. 128136) The present invention relates to a mouthpiece specifically constructed for the prevention of habitual breathing through the mouth.

Quite frequently people become victims of improper breathing habits, such as breathing through the mouth. The habit is detrimental both to the one who is the victim of the habit and to those around him. Constant breathing through the mouth often results in bad eating habits and seemingly poor table manners as well as leading to snoring at night or at other times when asleep. However, habitual breathing through the mouth may also affect the teeth adversely, making some crooked and quite often causing pain to the teeth in extremely cold weather.

Accordingly, the device of the present invention is constructed to assure correct breathing habits either asleep or awake and is to be utilized in such manner that the victim of breathing habits through the mouth will, after using the device, unconsciously practice good breathing habits.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a rear view of the mouthpiece of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the mouthpiece of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the mouthpiece of the present invention as applied to an individual;

Figure 4 is a view of the attachment of the mouthpiece to the teeth of the upper jaw; and

Figure 5 is a view of the mouthpiece as attached to the teeth of the lower jaw.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the mouth piece is illustrated in its entirety by the numeral and is constructed primarily of a piece of moldable plastic,

the particular plastic constituting no part of the present invention.

The mouthpiece 10 is shaped to conform to the curvature of the jaw of the individual for whom the mouthpiece is constructed.

The mouthpiece 10, noting Figure 3, is substantially T-shaped in cross section with the head 12 of the T closing the mouth opening and having portions thereof seating between the upper and lower lips 16 and 18, respectively, and the gums of the upper and lower jaws to retain the mouthpiece in position in the mouth and prevent the passage of air thereinto. This head or front 12 of the mouthpiece is formed with central depressions 20 and 22 at the upper and lower edges thereof centrally of its ends so that no uncomfortable pressure will be exerted on the phrenum joining the lips to the ums. g The stem 14 of the mouthpiece 10 serves as a separator or spacer between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws 24 and 26 of the wearer.

On the back surface of the front or head 12 of the mouthpiece 10 above the stem or spacer 14 are a plurality of depressions or impressions conforming to the shape of the teeth of the upper jaw 24 of the wearer, these depressions being designated generally by the numeral 28 and terminating against the upper surface of the stem or separator 14 of the mouthpiece. The depressions for the upper molars are designated by a separate numeral 30 as will be noted most particularly in Figures 1 and 4 for a purpose that will become immediately apparent.

Adjacent the depressions 30 the upper jaw portion of the mouthpiece 10 on each side of the jaw is provided a holder 32 in the form of a wire having its ends embedded in the stem 14 and its intermediate portion being shaped to conform to the side wall shape of the two molars 30a on each side of the upper jaw.

As will be particularly noted in Figure 4, when the teeth 28a of the upper jaw are seated in the depressions 28 of the upper jaw portion of the mouthpiece, the molars 30a seat in the depressions 30 and are more or less frictionally clamped to the mouthpiece by means of the wire holders 32.

In the lower jaw portion of the device, that portion beneath the stem or separator 14 of the mouthpiece, similar depressions to the depressions 28 and 30 are formed in the back surface of the front wall of the mouthpiece. These depressions are designated by the numerals 34 for the front incisors and 36 for the other front lower teeth.

Noting particularly Figure 5, the front lower incisors 34a and the other lower front teeth 36a of the lower jaw 26 are seated in the corresponding depressions 34 and 36 formed in the lower jaw portion of the mouthpiece 10. A wire holder having its ends embedded within the plastic shell forming the mouthpiece has its intermediate portion disposed behind the depressions 34 and shaped to the curvature of the front lower incisors 34 to frictionally clamp these teeth to the lower jaw portion of the mouthpiece 10.

Thus, when the mouthpiece 10 is inserted correctly in the mouth of a wearer as shown in Figure 3, the teeth of the upper and lower jaws 24 and 26 are releasably and frictionally clamped to one another in a painless and efficient manner with just sufiicient pressure to prevent inadvertent opening of the mouth and thereby assure proper breathing through the nose.

The shape of the mouthpiece is such that it is extremely comfortable to use and will cause no distress to the wearer.

It has been found advisable to embed reinforcing wire 38 within the front 12 of the mouthpiece 10 to afford additional rigidity to the same.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mouthpiece for preventing breathing through the mouth comprising a member shaped to the curvature of the jaw and adapted to fit within the mouth of a wearer, said member including a portion formed to lie between the teeth and the lips, means on said member for seating the teeth of the upper and lower jaw therein, and means for releasably retaining the teeth of the jaws in said member, said member being molded to fit the jaw, said seating means including depressions formed in the rear wall of the member to fit the teeth, said retaining means including a holder for clampingly embracing some of the teeth of the jaw.

2. A mouthpiece for preventing breathing through the mouth comprising a member shaped to the curvature of the jaw and adapted to fit within the mouth of a wearer, said member including a portion formed to lie between the teeth and the lips, means on said member for seating the teeth of the upper and lower jaw therein, and means for releasably retaining the teeth of the jaws in said member, said member being molded to fit the jaw, said seating means including depressions formed in the member to fit the teeth, said retaining means ineluding a holder embracing the front, lower incisors, and elements embracing the molars of the upper jaw.

3. A mouthpiece for preventing breathing through the mouth comprising a member shaped to the curvature of the jaw and adapted to fit within the mouth of a wearer, said member including a portion formed to lie between the teeth and the lips, means on said member 5 for seating the teeth of the upper and lower jaw therein, and means for releasably clamping the teeth of the upper and lower jaws to the member, said seating means including depressions formed in said member to fit the teeth, said clamping means including holders for embracing some of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

